Sports

Diamond Mile moves to November

SOME major changes have been made for the fifth running of the Diamond Mile race to be run at Caymanas Park later this year.

Christopher Armond, racing director at the promoting company, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment, made the new conditions public at a press conference held at Caymanas Park on Tuesday last.

The first major change to the event is the date. The first four Diamond Mile races took place in early December and it has now been decided to move the event ahead by a month with the new date for this year's renewal being November 9.

The change of date is an attempt to facilitate horses from Jamaica to possibly participate in the Caribbean Classic to be run in December at Gulfstream Park in Florida plus the other four races earmarked for regional horses.

Before horses gained entry to the Diamond Mile based on their year-to-date earnings at designated racing levels, for example, Graded Stakes, Open Allowance and Overnight Allowance over all distances.

These levels remain the same but in 2019 specific distances are added.

Earnings for Grade One/Graded Stakes horses will be accumulated at distances of 6 furlongs (1,200m) and over; Open Allowance races will be done at 7 furlongs (1,400m) and over and the same for the Overnight Allowance races.

Another major change to the conditions of the Diamond Mile is that the winner of the Gold Cup will now get first preference entry to the race.

Automatic first preference entry for the winner of the previous Diamond Mile remains the same, providing that this horse races in a minimum of two Grade One races and finished first to third in at least one race.

The win and you are in condition remains the same also, with the winners of the Jamaica Derby, the Superstakes, the Sprint Championship and the Invitational Mile in the same year of the Diamond Mile receiving automatic first preference entries into the Diamond Mile.

Native-bred four-year-old and upwards and imported three-year-old and upward horses that are domiciled in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago since May 1, 2019; colts and geldings carry 56.0 kgs (123 lbs) and fillies and mares carry 54.0 kgs (119 lbs). Native-bred three-year-old horses that are domiciled in Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago since January 1; colts and geldings are to carry 54.0 kgs (119 lb) and fillies and mares are set to carry 52.0 kgs (112 lb).

A commemorative trophy valued at $500,000 will be won outright by the winning owner. The winning breeder, trainer, jockey, and groom will also receive trophies. The Diamond Mile carries a nomination fee of $80,000.

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